Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez believes that ending corruption in the country requires regaining the people’s sense of righteousness, which he said has been eroded by the normalization of corrupt practices.
“Corruption is, ultimately, a moral crisis. To end it, we must rebuild our sense of righteousness—our belief that truth still matters, that decency still counts, and that no one is too small to make a stand,” the lawmaker said a statement posted on social media.
He argued that beyond crafting more laws, “more conscience” is needed in eradicating systemic corruption.
Benitez said the Filipino people have lost their moral compass, and that values such as bayanihan, pakikisama, and utang na loob have been “deformed and have devolved into excuses for silence, favoritism, and complicity.”
“The solution is not just more laws, but more conscience. Moral renewal must begin in homes, schools, and public life. Integrity must be celebrated as much as corruption is condemned. We must make doing the right thing the rule again, not the exception.”
Benitez said that corruption in the country is “not just a failure of systems—it is a failure of conscience.”
He lamented that the Filipino people have lost their moral compass, and that values such as bayanihan, pakikisama, and utang na loob have been “deformed and have devolved into excuses for silence, favoritism, and complicity.” As a result, “the culture of conscience has been replaced by the culture of corruption.”
“Tragically, we now witness it everywhere: bribes treated as “normal,” cheating dismissed as “smart,” and honesty ridiculed as “idealistic.” When corruption becomes a way to survive, righteousness starts to look foolish—and the nation begins to rot from within,” he added.
The solon noted that leadership in the country also reflects such decay, as leaders who rise through corrupt systems contribute to the weakening of the moral foundations they are supposed to strengthen.
He said that because of this, institutions such as schools, the church, and courts of law that once upheld right and wrong now suffer from a loss of credibility.
Benitez also said that the fight against corruption is not just a political battle, but “a battle for the Filipino soul.”
